2008 Latino Voter Turnout Plan: Part IV of V
You Have the Right and Responsibility to Vote

By Ramón Pérez

Part IV is about protecting your right to vote. You have a right and the responsibility to vote in the September 2007 primary [in Ohio, for example] and general election on November 2007. The passage of the 1965 Voting Rights Act, gave many oppressed groups—including blacks, Latinos, and Native Americans—the right to vote, after a long history of violence and murders to those trying to vote.

The responsibility and protection to make sure all eligible Latino voters vote lies within each and every one of us who know first hand or understand the significance of the 1965 Voting Rights Act. The rest of you better read up on this part of the history, because ignorance is no longer  acceptable.

This year’s Toledo elections will be just as important as the presidential election in November 2008. Why? Because, six district council seats are up for grabs and they will determine the kind of quality of life your family and your neighbors receive, especially since city services and police protection will probably be reduced drastically in your neighborhood if you don’t register to vote and more importantly actually vote.

“Su Voto es su Voz!”

The following checklist are suggested areas to learn and research as your next step in preparing your volunteers and, just as important, your new voters.

It’s your right to: 

• receive voting demonstration and assistance;
• vote by provisional voting;
• have a ballot replaced if you make a mistake;
• receive voting assistance while you vote due to blindness, disability, or inability to read or write;
• have bilingual voting assistance (check with Advocates for Basic Legal Equality, Inc. @ 419.255.0814);
• recruit lawyers & legal volunteers as poll monitors;
• do voter turnout observation and documentation on standard sheet;
• develop and provide standard complaint forms if necessary; &
• vote as a convicted felon as long as you are not incarcerated [Michigan and Ohio allow for this privilege].  

Your right as a voter is protected, but do your homework first. And ask the questions that are important to you or your group because “no question is a dumb question.”

There are many resources available to answer your questions regarding voters’ rights, including the Lucas County Board of Elections at 419.213.4001. Otherwise just email me and I will gladly help you through this process of Part IV [[email protected]].

The final part, Part V, is: “Get-Out-The-Vote.”

2008 Latino Voter Turnout Plan: Part I of V
2008 Latino Voter Turnout Plan: Part II of V

2008 Latino Voter Turnout Plan: Part III of V
2008 Latino Voter Turnout Plan: Part IV of V

2008 Latino Voter Turnout Plan: Part V of V